Brooks tops Biershenk at The Budweiser

Joe Brooks won The Budweiser Classic with a birdie on the third playoff hole.

It took three extra holes for Joe Brooks to do something he had never done before.

He won a stroke play championship with a playoff win in The Budweiser Classic at Boscobel.

On the third playoff hole Brooks dropped a 9-iron shot just two feet from the pin on the par-3 165 yard tenth hole.

The Franklin, North Carolina golfer watched as Biershenk missed his birdie attempt and then rolled in the two footer for his first win.

“I was more nervous over that 2-footer than I have been on any 2-footer I have had in 30 years of playing golf,” said the winner.

Brooks who has a lawn care business in Franklin was a little amazed at his performance. This time of the year he only gets to play on weekends.

I probably hit more range balls this weekend than I have all summer long. This is our busy season and it is difficult to get any practice time,” he said.

Brooks trailed first round co-leaders Biershenk and Derrick Oyervides by a shot going into the second round. The two golfers posted scores of 2-under par 69 to share the opening round lead.

Biershenk and Oyervides held their lead going to the back nine. However, Oyervides dropped off the pace and would finish shooting a 1-over par 72.

Defending champion Robbie Biershenk lost the lead on the final hole to drop into a playoff.

Brooks, playing in the group in front of Biershenk, got to 2-under par with a birdie on the 15th hole.

He parred-in to finish with a second round 70 to match his first round score.

Biershenk’s stood at 3-under par for the tournament going to the final hole.

On number 18 Biershenk pushed his drive well off the fairway and had to take a drop from the hazard.

The defending champion went from being ahead by a stroke to possibly losing the tournament by a shot. Biershenk needed a 17 foot putt for a bogey to drop to 2-under par, but still have a chance to win in a playoff.

Both golfers finished at 140 for the tournament and went to the tenth hole for sudden death. They each parred the hole the first time, but the second time they played the hole Brooks had an advantage.

“I didn’t hit a really good chip, but I had a good line on the putt and it was dead center, but came up short,” said Brooks.

After two attempts to finish the tournament on the ninth hole with much of the field watching from the deck over the clubhouse, the playoff moved to number 10.

Brooks said the second time he played the hole on Sunday was much better than the first time around.

Derrick Oyervides shared the first round lead before dropping into a tie for third place.

“I bogeyed the hole the first time I played it today (Sunday) so I was hoping I could do better this time,” he said.

Brooks came within two feet of a spectacular finish, but was good enough for his first win in a stroke play event.

The winner came to the tournament in South Carolina with a group of 15 golfers from his part of North Carolina. After the win his fellow Tarheel golfers congratulated him and snapped pictures with the winner and his trophy.

“I will be able to find a place to keep this. I’m pretty happy to finally get a win in a tournament like this one,” he concluded.

After Brooks and Biershenk, Oyervides, B.J. Hill and Geoffrey Bell all finished in a tie for third at 1-under par 141.

Joe Brooks from Franklin, NC won his first individual stroke play championship with his playoff win at the Budweiser Classic.

The Budweiser has been the largest weekend tournament played in the Upstate each year. The field is divided into two shotgun starts to accommodate the large number of golfers who annually play in the championship.